KR101154716B1 - Push-pull container closure - Google Patents

Abstract

The push pull closure 10 includes a shell 14 and a tip 50. Shell 14 includes a fluid opening 40, a stem 36 extending axially through the opening, and a first lip 44 on the body outer surface and a second lip 46 on the body inner surface, The lip faces one end of the shell with the second lip further away from one end of the shell than the first lip. The tip has an outer flange 56 having a third lip 60 extending inwardly beyond the body outer surface and a fourth lip 62 receivable within the body opening and extending outwardly away from the stem 36. It has an injection hole 52 having an inner flange 54 having a. The third lip 60 is located between one end of the shell and the first lip 44, and the fourth lip 62 is located between one end of the shell and the second lip 46. The first lip has a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the third lip and the second lip has a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the fourth lip.

Push Pull Closure, Shell, Tip, Stem, Lip, Inner Flange, Outer Flange, Injection Hole

Description

Push Pull Container Closure {PUSH-PULL CONTAINER CLOSURE}

The present invention relates to a container closure, in particular to a push / pull cap for liquid containing bottles.

Many containers, especially plastic bottles containing dispensing fluid (such as drinking liquids or cleaning fluids), have closures or caps that are twisted or pulled to open passages for dispensing liquids, and provide seals to seal the containers. To prevent leakage when not in use.

In this conventional cap structure, the tip is slidable from the shell of the cap onto the central stem, the shell forming an opening around the stem for dispensing fluid. The plastic tip is slidably secured over the stem and includes a central opening that seals around the stem to shut off the fluid as the tip is pushed in, such that the central opening distributes fluid around the stem and through the tip as the tip is pushed out. Away from the stem. Closures of this type are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 5,472,120 and 5,975,369, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Attaching the tip to the shell of the closure is particularly important for commercial closure of such closure. For example, it is important that the force required to push the tip to seal the container and pull the tip to open the container upon release is within an acceptable range. The consumer will not accept a cap that is too difficult to push to seal and pull to open. At the same time, a cap that opens too easily is also undesirable in that it can also open unintentionally and leak liquid from the container. In addition, the caps have parts of the cap securely held together so that the cap can be easily assembled and at the same time minimize the possibility of parts falling off (essentially destroying the usefulness of the cap). Safely retaining the movable tip of such a cap can be particularly difficult to provide if the tip of such a cap is susceptible to many different forces, including, for example, axial loads used to open the tip, as well as lateral or torsional loads. . Lateral loads can be particularly large when, for example, the user often bites the tip during use (eg, when drinking from a container).

The present invention overcomes one or more of the problems described above.

According to various aspects and behaviors of the present invention, there are provided push-pull closures that are both aesthetic and functional. The closure provides a tip that can be easily assembled and at the same time opened and closed by the desired pushing and pulling force, and moreover is retained reliably on the closure shell to withstand the wide range of axial and transverse or lateral forces available during use. To ensure that

In one aspect of the invention, a push-pull closure comprising a shell and a tip is provided. The shell is attachable to one end of the container and includes a body having a fluid opening, a stem in the opening, and a first lip on the body outer surface and a second lip on the body inner surface, The lip faces one end of the shell. The tip has an injection hole at one end and an inner flange receivable on the body outer surface and an inner flange receivable within the body opening and generally spaced from the stem to form an annular fluid passage therebetween. The outer flange includes a third lip extending inwardly and the inner flange includes a fourth lip extending outward. The third lip is located between one end of the shell and the first lip and the fourth lip is located between one end of the shell and the second lip, such that the first lip is positioned to prevent removal of the tip from the shell body. And the second lip engages the fourth lip.

In one aspect of this aspect of the invention, the body outer surface is cylindrical and the first lip extends around the outer cylindrical surface. In another form, the third lip is elastically deflected with respect to the body outer surface, and the body outer surface is tapered outwardly from the first lip toward one end of the shell.

In another form of this aspect of the invention, the lip is ring-shaped with an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the first lip having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the third lip and the second lip smaller than the outer diameter of the fourth lip. Has

In another form of this aspect of the invention, the stem extends axially through the body opening and the first and second lips are spaced axially. In another advantageous form, the third and fourth ribs are axially spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the axial spacing between the first and second lips, with the first lip being one end of the shell rather than the second lip. Closer to and / or the first and second lips form a stop surface facing one end of the shell such that the stop surface is substantially transverse to the axial direction.

In another form of this aspect of the invention, the fourth lip slides sealingly against the body interior surface around the entirety of the body opening.

In another aspect of the invention, a closure comprising a shell and a tip is provided. The shell is attachable to one end of the container and includes a body having a fluid opening, a stem extending axially through the opening, and a first lip on the body outer surface and a second lip on the body inner surface; The silver lip faces one end of the shell and is farther from the one end of the shell than the first lip. The tip has an injection hole at one end and an inner flange receivable on the body outer surface and an inner flange receivable within the body opening and generally spaced from the stem to form an annular fluid passage therebetween. The outer flange includes a third lip extending inwardly and the inner flange includes a fourth lip extending outward. The lip is ring shaped with an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the third lip is located between one end of the shell and the first lip and the fourth lip is located between one end of the shell and the second lip. The first lip has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the third lip and the second lip has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the fourth lip, such that the first lip engages with the third lip to prevent removal of the tip from the shell body. And the second lip is combined with the fourth lip.

In one form of this embodiment of the invention, the first and second lips form a stop surface facing one end of the shell such that the stop surface is substantially transverse to the axial direction.

1 is a perspective view of a push-pull closure according to the invention with the closure in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through the closure of FIG. 1 with the closure tip in an open position;

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the fastening of the closure tip in an open position in the shell; FIG.

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 but with the closure tip in the closed position.

7 is a bottom view of the closure of FIG.

A push pull closure 10 embodying the present invention is shown in FIG. As the cap portion has an outer cylindrical wall 18 having an inner thread 20 configured to engage a threaded portion of the container, the closure 10 includes a shell 14 configured to attach to an opening of the container.

The shell 14 generally includes a central opening 24 surrounded by an annular body 26 forming a cylindrical inner and outer wall or surface 28, 30. The stem 36 is supported inside the annular body 26, such as radial legs 38 (see FIGS. 4-7), extending axially through the body 26 and generally around the stem 36. Cylindrical flow passage 40 is formed. An opening may be provided through the leg 38 to allow more liquid flow from the vessel to the flow passage 40 if necessary.

The annular body 26 includes a lip or fang 44 extending outward on the outer wall 30 and a lip or fang 46 extending inward on the inner wall 28. These ribs 44, 46 are generally cylindrical or ring-shaped, and form a surface that faces the cap portion 16 and extends reflectively in a direction generally transverse to the axial direction. The ribs 44, 46 are also spaced apart from each other in the axial direction by a selected distance such that the outwardly extending lip 44 is closer to the cap portion 16 than the inwardly extending lip 46.

The push pull tip 50 includes an injection hole 52 having inner and outer flanges 54, 56 at one end and extending axially from the end. The inner flange 54 fits inside the shell annular body 26 and the outer flange 56 fits around the outer wall 30 of the annular body.

An inwardly extending lip or fang 60 is provided around the inside of the tip outer flange 56, and an outwardly extending lip or fang 62 is provided around the outside of the tip inner flange 54. The lips 60, 62 may be advantageously spaced apart from each other in the axial direction by the same distance that they space between the annular body lips 44, 46. In addition, the inner flange lip 62 slidably seals against the body inner wall 28 around the flow passage 40 as a whole, so that the passage 40 may be between the inner flange 54 and the annular body 26. Ensure little fluid leakage. Such a seal may be provided by elastic compression of the material between the components to which it is joined.

When assembled, the tip lips 60, 62 are positioned between the cap portion 16 and the annular body lips 44, 46. This may be accomplished by pressing the tip 50 onto the annular body 26 by compression of the material, and / or bending the flanges 54, 56 such that the tip lips 60, 62 are annular body lips 44. 46 and the top of the shell annular body 26. This assembly can be facilitated by the spacing of the lip 44, 46 and 60, 62, so that the tip lip 60, 62 need not be pressed simultaneously on any thick portion of the annular body 26. You should know that

Once so assembled, the lip 44, 46, 60, 62 cooperate to retain the tip on the shell 14 so that the lip when the tip 50 is pulled to its limit of travel as further described below. 44 engages lip 60 and lip 46 engages lip 62. That is, ring-shaped ribs 44, 46, 60, 62, which generally have inner and outer diameters, have interference overlaps, and ribs 44 extending outwardly of the annular body of the tip lips 60 extending inwardly. It has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter, and the lip 46 extending inwardly of the annular body has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the tip lip 62 extending outwardly.

It should be noted that the ribs 44, 46, 60, 62 need not be completely continuous, and thus can be formed with breaks in these annular shapes. Thus, for example, a mold element may be used that is difficult to form the annular body lips 44, 46 at full 360 degrees (eg, the mold element used to form the leg 38 is axially aligned with the leg 38). To block the mold elements necessary to form the annular body inner lip 46, in which case the lip 46 projecting inwardly is not shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. Nevertheless, sufficient extension of the lip can be easily molded to create the necessary overlap between the lip 44, 46, 60, 62 to provide the desired fixation between the shell annular body 25 and the tip 50. Can be.

A sealing member 70 is provided around the injection hole 52 and is configured to seal around the stem 36 when the tip 50 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. When the tip 50 is in the open position as shown in FIG. 2, fluid, such as a sports drink, is cylindrical from the container around the cap 16 (arrow 74) and the stem 36 (arrow 76). It flows out through the injection hole 52 (arrow 78) through the flow passage 40.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner and / or outer walls 28, 30 of the shell annular body 26 taper slightly toward the cap 16 outward from the ribs 44, 46. Can be. In conclusion, when the tip 50 is pulled toward the open position, the tip 50 is placed at the limit at which the lips 44, 46, 60, 62 are engaged to stop the tip 50 from being further removed. As approaching, there may be a detectable decrease in the required pulling force. That is, the compressive force between the tip lips 60, 62 and the annular body inner and outer walls 28, 30 is reduced, and therefore the axial friction between the lips 60, 62 and the walls 28, 30 is similar. Will decrease. This certain feeling can have the advantage that the person pulling the tip 50 reduces its pulling force, so that it is securely retained on the shell annular body 26 when the tip 50 reaches the stop limit. Helps to ensure that it will be. However, within the scope of the present invention, the inner and outer walls 28, 30 are of a straight cross section to provide a uniformly shaped surface for the tip lip 60, 62 to slide over between the open and closed positions. .

In addition, the above-described structure in which the axially spaced inner and outer lips 62, 60 slidably engage the inner and outer walls 28, 30 of the shell annular body 26 beyond the annular body 26. In addition to providing a firm axial positioning of the tip 50 when pushed and pulled (minimizing off-axis torsion), this helps to control the pushing and pulling forces that are important to the consumer. That is, since the substantial amount of pushing and pulling force required is based on the friction between the tip 50 and the annular body 26, and because this friction is highly dependent on the frictionally engaging surface, the lip 50 The control of such friction is relatively easy by the present invention as it can be maintained in the fully engaged position over the complete range of push-pull movements of (i.e., the contact surface and this frictional force is the tip (when tip 50 is pulled out). 50) and the annular body 26 does not significantly decrease despite overlap.

Furthermore, the present invention not only provides for the secure mounting of the tip 50 to the annular body 26 against the pulling force on the tip 50, but also allows for lateral pulling forces (e. G. Provide a secure mounting against other forces such as when the user bites the tip 50. Providing such a secure mounting against all these forces is desirable both functionally and commercially.

Thus, the invention described above is aesthetically desirable and can provide a certain flow through the closure when opened, providing ease of using a push-pull closure for a sports beverage bottle and providing a closure that can be easily assembled at the same time. to provide. Moreover, this useful closure provides a push-pull tip that can be safely held on the closure shell despite the wide range of forces that may be encountered during use.

Still other aspects, objects, and advantages of the invention may be obtained from the study of the specification, the drawings, and the enclosed claims. However, it should be understood that the present invention can be used in a modified form in which the preferred embodiments as described above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are obtained.

Claims (13)

A closure comprising a shell and a tip attachable to the container at one end, The shell is A body comprising an inner surface attachable to the container opening, the inner surface forming an opening in fluid communication with the container opening when attached to the container opening, A stem located inside the body opening to form a cylindrical fluid passageway between the body inner surface and the stem; A first lip 44 facing one end of the shell and extending outward on the body outer surface, A second lip 46 facing one end of the shell and extending inward on the body inner surface, The tip is With an injection hole at one end, An outer flange comprising a third lip 60 receivable and extending inwardly beyond the body outer surface, An inner flange receivable within the body opening and further including an outwardly extending fourth lip 62 from the stem to form an annular fluid passageway, The third lip 60 is located between one end of the shell and the first lip 44, and the fourth lip 62 is located between one end of the shell and the second lip 46. And the first lip 44 engages with the third lip 60 and the second lip 46 engages with the fourth lip 62 to prevent removal of the tip from the shell body. Closures. 2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth lips (44, 46, 60, 62) are each continuous. The closure of claim 1, wherein the body outer surface is cylindrical and the first lip extends around the outer cylindrical surface. 4. The closure of claim 3, wherein said third lip (60) is elastically deflected with respect to said body outer surface, said body outer surface tapering from said first lip (44) toward one end of said shell. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth lips 44, 46, 60, 62 are ring-shaped having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and the first lips 44 are formed of the third lips ( A closure having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of 60, and wherein the second lip has a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the fourth lip. The closure of claim 1, wherein the stem extends axially through the body opening and the first and second lips (44, 46) are spaced axially apart. 7. The closure of claim 6, wherein the third and fourth lips (60, 62) are axially spaced by a distance equal to the axial spacing between the first and second lips (44, 46). The closure of claim 6, wherein the first lip (44) is closer to one end of the shell than the second lip (46). 7. The closure of claim 6, wherein said first and second lips (44, 46) form a stop surface facing one end of said shell, said stop surface transverse to said axial direction. 2. The closure of claim 1, wherein said fourth lip (62) slidably seals the entire periphery of said body opening relative to said body interior surface. A closure comprising a shell and a tip attachable to the container at one end, The shell is A body comprising an inner surface that is attachable to the container opening, the inner surface defining a cylindrical outer surface and an opening in fluid communication with the container opening when attached to the container opening, A stem extending axially through the interior of the body opening to form a cylindrical fluid passageway between the body interior surface and the stem; A first lip 44 facing one end of the shell and extending outward on the body outer surface, A second axially spaced apart from the first lip 44, facing toward one end of the shell and further away from one end of the shell than the first lip 44 and extending inward on the body inner surface Lip 46, The tip is With an injection hole at one end, An outer flange comprising a third lip 60 receivable and extending inwardly beyond the body outer surface, The third lip 60, receivable within the body opening, spaced from the stem to form an annular fluid passageway, and the same distance as the axial spacing between the first lip 44 and the second lip 46. An inner flange further comprising a fourth lip 62 axially spaced apart and extending outwardly, The third lip 60 is located between one end of the shell and the first lip 44, and the fourth lip 62 is located between one end of the shell and the second lip 46. Become, The lip has a ring shape having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the first lip 44 has a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the third lip 60, and the second lip 46 has the fourth lip 62. The first lip 44 engages with the third lip 60 and the second lip 46 has a fourth lip to prevent removal of the tip from the shell body. Closure in combination with 62. 12. The closure of claim 11, wherein said first and second ribs (44, 46) form a stop surface facing one end of said shell, said stop surface transverse to said axial direction. 12. The closure of claim 11, wherein the first, second, third and fourth lips (44, 46, 60, 62) are each continuous.

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